What Makes Something Art?

What makes something art? It’s not the paint; your walls have paint, but you wouldn’t call four white walls art. It’s not just sound — random noises without melody or structure aren’t music. And it doesn’t have to be the work of a single person — films, video games, and many books are the product of entire teams. So, how do we know what art is?

We know that something is art when it intends to derive a feeling or emotion from us. A photograph can be art, a pop song your parents find annoying can be art, or the zombie movie you watched when you were too young can be art. At Berkshire CenterPoint, we aim to offer a place for the spiritual, the artistic, and open-minded, which requires people to be open to what art can be.

Art Takes Many Forms

The beauty of art lies in its diversity. Vincent van Gogh’s “Starry Night” evokes a sense of awe with its swirling brushstrokes and vivid colors, capturing the artist’s emotional state during his time at the asylum. The painting doesn’t just show us a night sky — it makes us feel the turbulence and wonder what it was like for van Gogh to experience it.

Music, too, transcends simple sound. Lady Gaga’s “Judas” provokes strong reactions through its blend of religious imagery and pop sensibilities. Whether listeners love it or find it controversial, the song achieves its artistic purpose by evoking emotion.

Cinema expands art’s reach even further. “Everything Everywhere All At Once” combines absurdist humor with profound questions about family, purpose, and Connection. Through its chaotic multiverse, a topic usually reserved for action superhero movies, the film creates an emotional journey that resonates long after the credits roll.

Even interactive media qualifies as art. The video game “Sword of the Sea” by Giant Squid invites players into a meditative underwater experience. Through gameplay, visuals, and sound, it creates feelings of solitude, wonder, and discovery that traditional art forms achieve through different means.

Berkshire CenterPoint’s Visionary Mission

Art’s power to move and Transform people drives everything we do at Berkshire CenterPoint. Our Mission centers on two main goals that recognize art’s essential role in human growth and healing.

First, we create a healing and supportive environment for the creation, expression, and sharing of tools and modalities for personal growth. This means providing space where artists can explore their craft while contributing to others’ emotional and spiritual development.

Second, we support and showcase visionary artists, writers, and educators in their quest to uplift the human spirit. We believe that art serves a higher purpose beyond entertainment or decoration—it connects us to something larger than ourselves.

Creating a Healing Environment Through Art

Our purpose extends beyond simply displaying art. We provide forums and venues for visionary artists, educators, writers, and healing practitioners to Connect with the growing Community of people invested in wholeness and growth.

This unfolds through a supportive and dynamic constellation of websites and social media platforms as well as in-person events, presentations, and seminars. Each platform serves as a bridge between artistic expression and personal Transformation.

We are a team of dedicated artists, writers, teachers, counselors, and practitioners of the healing arts who are united in a common focus of providing centering practices in a changing world. Art becomes a tool for stability and growth when the world feels uncertain.

Join Us in This Mission

The “We” of CenterPoint, by definition, includes “You.” Art thrives in Community, and our Community grows stronger with each person who recognizes art’s Transformative power.

CenterPoint’s success depends upon “Our” combined efforts in creating and maintaining a creative, vital, and sustainable Community. Whether you’re an artist seeking support, someone exploring personal growth, or simply someone who believes in art’s power to heal and inspire, you have a place here.

Berkshire CenterPoint is organized as a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization with directors and a board of advisors. It can only function and succeed with your participation. Your involvement—whether through creating, sharing, learning, or supporting—helps us build a space where art and healing intersect.

Art exists wherever intention meets emotion. Join us in supporting this vital Connection and help create a Community where visionary art can flourish and transform lives.